The GOES-R satellite streaks into space aboard an Atlas V rocket in this long-exposure view of its successful launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Nov. 19, 2016. Credit: United Launch Alliance

GOES-R, the first of NOAA’s highly advanced geostationary weather satellites, lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the 19th of November 2016. The satellite will boost the nation’s weather observation network and NOAA’s prediction capabilities, leading to more accurate and timely forecasts, watches and warnings.

]]>sp_officehttp://www.wmo.int/sathttp://www.wmo-sat.info/vlab/?p=27772016-09-25T21:56:19Z2016-09-25T21:43:01ZContinue reading →]]>A new version of the WMO Space-based Observing System Capability Analysis and Review tool (OSCAR/Space v2.0) is now available (http://oscar.wmo.int/space). It provides a wider range of information on satellite programmes, instruments, and the variables they can observe in the areas of weather, water, climate, the marine environment, land processes, and space weather.
OSCAR/Space v2.0 features powerful search functions and gap analyses, by variables and mission types, for users in NMHSs, satellite agencies, and the WMO Rolling Review of Requirements. Users feedback on this new version is welcome, and can be provided through sat-help-desk@wmo.int
]]>sp_officehttp://www.wmo.int/sathttp://www.wmo-sat.info/vlab/?p=27372016-06-28T14:28:02Z2016-06-28T14:28:02ZContinue reading →]]>On 28 June 2016, the EUMETSAT Council approved the relocation of the geostationary Meteosat-8 satellite to 41.5 degrees East in support to the multi-partner Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) service continuity beyond 2016. This decision follows the roadmap agreed by the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) to ensure IODC continuity after decommissioning of the ageing Meteosat-7 satellite at the end of 2016.

Considering that Meteosat-8 has exceeded its design lifetime, EUMETSAT’s support to the IODC services will be on a best effort basis.

The relocation will start on 4 July 2016 and is expected to be concluded around mid September 2016.

]]>sp_officehttp://www.wmo.int/sathttp://www.wmo-sat.info/vlab/?p=27332016-06-22T07:41:27Z2016-06-22T07:35:56ZContinue reading →]]>At a ceremony held on the side-lines of the 68th WMO Executive Council meeting in Geneva, representatives from Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and WMO have signed a Memorandum on the Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users Conference (AOMSUC). The aim of the Memorandum is to maximize the use of meteorological satellites for sustainable socio-economic development.